Szmodics was born on January 22, 1996, in Colchester, England. He is of English nationality and began his career in the youth academy of Colchester United, the hometown club where he grew up. Szmodics quickly rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut for Colchester in 2013. Over the next few seasons, he established himself as a key player for the club, displaying his versatility and technical ability on the pitch.